IOGKF

Newsletter

September 2009

MCF 2009: A CELEBRATION

By Sareeta Ganesan – IOGKF Canada.

This years Miyagi Chojun Festival was unique in that it was
a celebration of many major IOGKF events. These included Miyagi
Anichi Sensei’s life, Higaonna Morio Sensei’s 70th birthday and
30 years since the establishment of the IOGKF. It will go down in
history as one of the IOGKF's most memorable Gasshuku…

The Miyagi Chojun Festival was held in Burlington, Ontario,Canadaon
April 30th to May 3rd, 2009. IOGKF Canada
hosted this special event, special because this was to be a dual
celebration; the IOGKF’s 30th anniversary and the celebration
of Morio Higaonna Sensei’s 70th birthday.

Just two days prior to the event however, the sad news of An’ichi
Miyagi Sensei’s passing reached Tetsuji Nakamura Sensei (host of
the event). Shock and sadness followed from all IOGKF members worldwide,
and Sensei Higaonna’s presence was then in question.

MCF carried on as planned however, and following various introductory
remarks on the opening day, Nakamura Sensei turned to all of us
and announced that in honour of An’ichi Miyagi Sensei we would all
perform Gekiai Dai Ichi 78 times (once for each year of his life).
All levels of karateka in that hall trained hard together, and proved
that the spirit and energy of An’ichi Miyagi Sensei lived in each
of us. He would have been proud.

That same spirit and camaraderie was shown throughout the next
few days of training under the guidance of Sudo Sensei (Venezuela),
Sensei Villa (USA), Sensei Han (USA), Sensei Marchant (UK), Sensei
Allen (USA), Sifu Kho (White Crane style Kung Fu, Canada) and of
course our own Nakamura Sensei (Canada).

Higaonna Sensei did attend following An’ichi Miyagi Sensei’s
funeral in Okinawa. He was, I believe, saddened by the loss
of his Sensei, but proud to see the true IOGKF spirit when we all
trained together under his guidance and scrutiny.

New friendships were made as we had karateka from all over the
world attending the event. We had people from the UK, Mexico,
Sweden, Venezuela, Israel, Germany and the USA to name a few, and
even a new member from Saudi Arabia!

More friendships were made at the IOGKF Talent Night, which I
was happy to be a part of. I didn’t know there was so much
hidden talent among us! Eric Higaonna’s rendition of “Into
the Night” by Santana was memorable!! The highlight
for me was the wonderful serenade that Sensei Linda Marchant (one
of our talented judges) received, courtesy of Canada’s own Sensei
Mac Newton.

Higaonna Sensei’s birthday celebration was another wonderful
event that we all attended. Many tributes came from all several
sensei and we all watched a wonderful video on his life in karate
and, ultimately, in the IOGKF.

There were many other opportunities to get to know one another
at impromptu dinners out, meeting up for drinks or just talking
after training. I even got to know some more karateka at the
very large black belt grading that was also held during the gasshuku.
We were also privileged to have a Masters’ Demonstration which wowed
the crowd of spectators and karateka alike. Demonstrations
of skill, technique and culture were well received.

I believe that the true Goju-Ryu spirit was shown throughout
this MCF during the training, the celebrations and fun, but most
of all through the teachings of Higaonna Sensei as An’ichi Miyagi
Sensei’s spirit flowed through him.

Let’s all plan to meet up again at the next MCF in Spokane, Washington.